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Summer Picnic Pasta Salad (recipe).


By: Maren Swanson • June 24th, 2016
Summer Picnic Pasta Salad by Maren Swanson. #recipe


Summer has officially graced us with its presence this year and so have the no-bake recipes in my kitchen. The heat can be nice for short dresses and barbeques but my kitchen is unforgiving once I turn on my vintage stove amidst 90-degree temperatures. So, I’ve began making summer-friendly dishes that either requiring no oven use or very little of it.

Summer Picnic Pasta Salad by Maren Swanson. #recipe
Trader Joe's Basil Plant.

Pasta Salad

My first no-bake recipe is a take on classic pasta salad but with my own “Maren” twist. I call it Summer Picnic Pasta Salad. It’s the perfect family-style pasta salad to bring to a picnic or barbeque, plus I’ve added some healthy and easy to find products from my local Trader Joe’s to make it easier for your one-stop shopping ingredient list. Isn’t Trader Joe’s the best?!

Summer Picnic Pasta Salad by Maren Swanson. #recipe
Trader Giotto's Calabrese Salami
Trader Joe's Riced Cauliflower.

Last time I was in Trader Joe’s I discovered Riced Cauliflower, which is nothing but finely chopped cauliflower, so I tried it to save me on prep time, plus it’s loaded with calcium. I also added some cooked egg whites and salami (aka Trader Giotto’s Calabrese Salame) for extra protein in this dish. Have you ever tried Girard’s light Champagne dressing? I’m obsessed with it; it’s bright and flavorful and it complements all the ingredients in this pasta salad so well. You could substitute a light Italian dressing if you can’t find the Girard’s dressing.

Summer Picnic Pasta Salad by Maren Swanson. #recipe

This recipe is perfect if you’re serving a group of 8 to 10 people, however I made a big batch for my husband and I for a weekend picnic and then ate the leftovers for lunch throughout the week! I switched it up by tossing in some arugula for extra greens, along with some chopped chicken right before I ate it one day. That’s the best part about pasta salad – it’s so versatile! Anyway, I hope you get a chance to make Summer Picnic Pasta Salad; it’s a great excuse to grab some friends, bust out the picnic basket, drink some cold white wine and enjoy the summer days!



Summer Picnic Pasta Salad (recipe)

Summer Picnic Pasta Salad by Maren Swanson. #recipe #pastasalad


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